Alex

The antisemitic cunt helped deliver Brexit is an equally valid take. Literally at least partially responsible for accelerating the decline. Absolutely incapable of doing anything and being happy / preferring to be radical from the safety of opposition is another 👍🏻

Does it really matter if it’s supposed to be parody or not?

You’re about my age and will no doubt have some vague memories of reading Shoot and Match, plus the annuals at Christmas probably. Back in the early to mid-80s there was definitely still a real reverence for Matthews and his era. I even remember a feature on Wor Jackie and reading about him practicing with a tennis ball. This got me thinking about how the waning of Matthews’ fame is probably as much to do with the passing of time as anything else. But what really made me think that is the realisation that, back then, we were much closer to the 50s than we are now to those days in the 80s there’s a cheery thought for a Tuesday morning

Also, in my opinion, a better protest would be to leave Musk’s cesspit, because reporting stuff like that does fuck all

I guess I thought of Corbyn because the cult around him is leftist and British. Not sure I’ve seen cultism re: Starmer. Like Biden he’ll actually be judged in delivery though. Not what might’ve been. Without wishing to reopen the Corbyn thing, there seems to be a lot of people old enough to know better who are still devotees. I get that they may want the policies but they would honestly have him back as Labour leader tomorrow. 5 years after he lost to Johnson and blind to his very obvious failings imo. I honestly don’t see what these people think they’re hoping to achieve.

They were on about Clarke again today. One poster saying he’ll stay unless they get a bid north of £25m. And, if they don’t, he’ll go for £15-20m next summer when he has a year left on his contract.

Think he was viewed as potentially the best. Matthews achievements and longevity were amazing though.

Port Vale is Burslem, aye. I think it’s one of the only clubs in the league system that’s not named after an actual place.

The day of the Headingley ton? Aye, I remember watching it straight after. Bit of a scuffed finish iirc

You only need to look at the Corbyn devotees and their hatred of Starmer, etc to see it can happen here too. Presumably those people want problems like child poverty tackled but they’re still obsessed with a bloke that hasn’t got a snowball in hell’s chance of ever being in power

I’m sure I recall reading only 5 or 6 of the squad even turned up for the recording of the song and the video being shot. Also, on the released version you can distinctly make out Gazza singing on the ‘Express yourself’ bits.

Yes. The super over was in that World Cup final. But it was Stokes’ innings prior to that which got England there (84 not out) and he also batted in the super over. The absolutely ridiculous match winning century against Australia in Ashes test at Headingley was only a few weeks after that though

I bet Ray can

Him and Francois definitely bonded whilst reminiscing about dressing up as soldiers, coppers, etc

He must’ve been trying to get him to run it off

Aye, you can’t use his fitness as an excuse when you’re the fucking manager picking him over better options what a tool

Speaking of which, has anyone checked on Ross Kemp?

I’m not even sure they were tika-taka. That gets unfair stick as a way of playing but the Barcelona team where Guardiola developed it were often great to watch. They kept it with short passing but used that to open teams up. Del Bosque with Spain played an ultra safe version with Busquets and Alonso sitting in front of the defence. You’re absolutely right that it could be dull as fuck though

I disagree. I don’t think it’s an interesting topic

England should’ve to gone out to Slovakia and were incredibly lucky not to do so. That’s the legacy he deserved for his tactics and selections in this tournament

That’s quite the take

Poch maybe? I honestly don’t really care though. I had a slightly weird experience about 30 minutes into the match last night. It was an almost blissful realisation that I didn’t give a fuck. It’s not something you can force, because even as a ‘neutral’ when I watch a game I almost always end up wanting one team to win. I didn’t want England to get beat. And I quite like the squad. I just had next to no emotional investment in the result.

Eamonn to all of that. Bar maybe a send-off fixture, Kane and Southgate should both be put out to pasture. It’s right that a lot of players didn’t perform but a lot of the way the team played was restricted by having Kane upfront. Not so much a cart horse. More an overladen one running through treacle. And persisting with him is 100% on Southgate. Also, and apologies if it’s been mentioned elsewhere - isn’t Pickford in the side for his ability with the ball at his feet? I might be being unduly harsh but I thought that almost every time he had the ball he played it long to the centre forward. Which is Sunday morning stuff